NordVPN vs IPVanish (2023) – Compared and Reviewed

NordVPN vs IPVanish Reviews – The Comparison

In our comparison today, we looked into several important aspects listed below:

1. Servers and Network
2. Speed
3. Streaming
4. Torrenting
5. Ease of Use
6. Compatibility
7. Jurisdiction
8. Privacy and Security

1. IPVanish vs NordVPN – What are the available servers and network?

Number of Servers

A VPN service is really as good as the number of servers available for users to connect to. All the best VPNs can afford to maintain simultaneous connections and IP addresses park. Through this, users are evenly distributed among the servers to maintain internet speed and stability.

As of today, NordVPN is packed with more than 5,600 servers while IPVanish is at 1,300. Undoubtedly, NordVPN wins in this category by a huge margin. With that being said, according to multiple reviews on IPVanish, it nonetheless is still one of the top VPNs in terms of number of servers.

Number of Countries

Another important aspect to take note of is the number of countries offered by the VPN service providers for their users to access the internet with. Generally, most VPN users prefer to hide their IP addresses, however, there is still a significant number of netizens that need an IP address based in an “obscure” state such as in the case of accessing location restricted media content.

NordVPN supports 60 different countries while IPVanish has 51 countries. While NordVPN has a clear-cut advantage within this aspect but IPVanish remains as one of the top VPNs in terms of number of servers. However, is this the same advantage that NordVPN has over ExpressVPN?

2. IPVanish vs NordVPN – Which has better speed?

Both VPN service providers had decent speed test results. Just a little background info, all speed tests were conducted using OpenVPN with AES-256 encryption and my baseline speed was at approximately 160 Mbps.

I tested out the server speeds in several locations as listed below

Overall, NordVPN offers almost double the download internet speed of IPVanish across different countries. This could partly be due to NordVPN’s larger server network as compared to its contender. How good is NordVPN? If performance is your top priority, NordVPN may be the better option to go for. 

3. IPVanish vs NordVPN – Which is more ideal to access Netflix & streaming?

If you are a major Netflix lover, you would be very eager to find out if your VPN supports online streaming. Fortunately, NordVPN proves to be a better pick for Netflix fans as it works effortlessly to unblock content in the US, UK, Canada, France, Japan, and Brazil. These VPN providers is well-equipped for consistent streaming with their great choice of servers and proprietary SmartPlay DNS feature.

Overall, NordVPN unblocks a large number of streaming services, both in the US and internationally, which includes Netflix, BBC iPlayer, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, HBO, Showtime, and others that may results to be faster than IPVanish.

However, IPVanish’s unblocking feature seems rather unpredicatable and random. While I was able to access US Netflix and other streaming services, the access seems to drop at certain times. Unfortunately, IPVanish does not work on BBC iPlayer or the UK Netflix at the moment hence, IPVanish would not be recommended if your main intention of your VPN subscription is to  stream media.

4. IPVanish vs NordVPN – Which offers better Torrenting accessibility?

BitTorrent or P2P file sharing have gained popularity in the recent years, however, it has also been very controversial. This would depends on your location or the type of files being shares as this would dictate your legality of your torrenting activity. Hence, to gain privacy and security from your internet service provider is to utilize a VPN that encrypts your internet connection and hides your real IP addresses.

The great news is that both VPNs are equipped with features that allow P2P connections on their servers. With that being said, NordVPN has a quality-of-life torrenting feature which is not present in IPVanish. You can find a separate tab in their app for you to choose from more than 4,400 servers to connect to.  On top of that, the VPN supports SOCKS5 proxies which require an extra authentication instead of just encryption. These proxies also tend to provide better internet speeds for its users.

Lastly, since IPVanish is a US-based service, they are obliged to follow a strict Digital Millennium Copyright Act (DMCA) policy which would not be ideal if you’re a major torrenting fan. ExpressVPN, however, is based in the British Virgin Islands and is therefore not as vulnerable to DMCA notices. Netflix is famous in both of these countries, however, are they the best for Netflix and Chill? 

5. NordVPN vs IPVanish – Which is easier to use?

People are about convenience at this day and age. Hence, the ease of use of the VPNs is highly sought after. Luckily, NordVPN and IPVanish have ensure this aspect to be given the highest regards as their applications are equipped with stylish and intuitive interfaces.

NordVPN favors simplicity, which is apparent in their sharp and sleek design and a one-click protection with their quick and accessible connect button. You can also easily access their full server list presented on the main menu to quickly pick a specific location to connect to. The settings tab is easy to find with a decently long and organized list of everything you can tinker with.

IPVanish also has a large selection of apps for major devices and operating systems such as Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, Routers, Fire TV, and Chrome OS. In terms of performance, IPVanish is slower compared to NordVPN as it would occasionally experience a time out during connection attempts especially in high traffics. 

6. NordVPN vs IPVanish – Which is more compatible?

As one of the best commercial VPNs available on the market, NordVPN and IPVanish work seamlessly on a variety of platforms. They both have dedicated apps for each major operating system, as well as specialized support for many other devices.

The majority of internet users prefer Windows operating system and both VPNs work impressively here. NordVPN app support starts from Windows 7 and up – similar to PIA. Although, NordVPN does have a little more flexibility with manual setups for XP and Vista versions.

Additionally, NordVPN offers native VPN apps for macOS, iOS, Linux, Android, Android TV, and Amazon Fire. There are even browser extensions available for Chrome and Firefox. platforms.

Rounding back to IPvanish, this VPN features apps for Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and Amazon Fire. The VPN provides instructions for setting up its services on Linux, Windows Phone, and Chrome OS machines as well.

Lastly, Both VPNs also can be set up through a router. Clear instructions can be found on both websites to help you set up your VPN router.

7. Jurisdiction

If you’re concerned about the privacy and security of your user data, you need to be aware of where your VPN service provider is based and their logging policies. There have been many cases in the United States where government agencies have forced VPNs to handover user information and . That is why it is important to look for a VPN server location that is in a “Safe” location far away from the fourteen eyes alliances.

In terms of jurisdiction, NordVPN is based in Panama which is much favourable than the US-based PIA. Panama is not a member of any of the international surveillance alliances and is not obligated to submit your information to the authorities or even your logging activities.

Contrastingly, IPVanish is headquartered in the United States and is considered as a bad privacy jurisdiction due to the country’s heavy mass surveillance practices, data collection, and cooperation between other surveillance states.

However, there is no direct evidence to prove that jurisdiction will affect the privacy of your VPN users in a bad way. Like NordVPN, IPVanish was never caught gathering or sharing their customers’ private data. By weighing all the risks, NordVPN is still a safer option in the Jurisdiction category. That said, is it the safest VPN for China?

8. NordVPN vs IPVanish – Which VPN has better privacy?

Logging Policy

Considering the main reason people subscribe to a VPN service is for better privacy, almost every VPN claim that they do not keep any logs. However, most of the time you’ll find loopholes in the fine print or hidden behind intentionally vague statements. One way or another, VPN service providers do need to retain a certain amount of data on their users. This is where it’s critical to understand the difference between connection logs and activity logs.

While NordVPN is not subjected to any data retentions, the US-based PIA can be pressured by authorities to access user information. However, in order to get around this, Private Internet Access adopts a strict no-logs policy. You can’t give something you don’t possess.

IPVanish has a suspicious “zero log” claim as the situation with this VPN service is not as encouraging as compared to its contender. There was some news previously where the VPN provider was able to show internet logs on a suspected hacked.

However, one thing to keep in mind was that when the event happened, IPVanish was under a different team. The new management deserves some benefit of the doubt and be given a chance. But if we were to choose between NordVPN or IPVanish to trust our personal information with, the better choice would obviously be former.

9. NordVPN or IPVanish is better – Which is more secure?

Both NordVPN and IPVanish take security functions very seriously, which is why you’ll find that they offer plenty of useful features with a lot of depth to them.

Protocols

Both NordVPN and IPVanish offer multiple protocols and the best among them is the OpenVPN system that you should probably use if you’re seeking top-level security. However, the encryption process of OpenVPN can be slightly slower compared to the other protocols, but it’s a small compromise compared to the amazing security it brings to the table

NordVPN offers OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, IKEv2/IPsec, L2TP/IPSec, PPTP, and SSTP. The service provider’s app also comes with ad and malware blocking, DNS leak and IPv6 leak prevention. NordVPN also has a double VPN function to route your connection through twin VPN servers and obfuscated servers which hide your VPN activity as a regular activity.

Like NordVPN, IPVanish also provides military-grade AES-2556 encryption. IPVanish uses OpenVPN with TCP/UDP, L2TP/IPSec, and IKEv2 protocols. IPVanish’s apps offer IPv6 and DNS leak prevention. The provider also has a nifty “Scramble” protection that makes your VPN activity appear to be normal browser activity.

Both NordVPN and IPVanish include a kill switch. However, while NordVPN supports both desktop and mobile apps, IPVanish only has a kill switch on their desktop app. This means if you were to be surfing through the internet on a mobile device, you could accidentally run the risk of sharing your information when your VPN connection drops.

Overall, the choice of VPN protocols is solid for both providers though NordVPN has a slight advantage as it offers fast IKEv2 for use with mobile devices.

DNS Leaks

DNS calls are actually unencrypted, so all the websites you’ve visited can be logged by your ISP, hackers, or the authorities if the VPN lets you carry on with the default DNS service nominated by your ISP. Luckily, both IPVanish and NordVPN force all DNS references to travel down their encrypted tunnels to prevent anyone from seeing your web activities.

Both offer the same security options in their app to help prevent your IP address from getting exposed. You can even set the apps to start immediately when the operating system boots up to ensure they run on your computer all of the time. Both apps also include a kill switch option that prevents any app on your computer from connecting to the internet without an active VPN.

The Final Verdict – NordVPN or IPVanish?

If you’re searching for an inexpensive, general-purpose VPN to install onto your devices, IPVanish would be a good choice. However, in today’s comparison, NordVPN is the clear winner in this head-to-head competition. The company supplies excellent privacy protections, great multi-platform support, wide-ranging streaming support, comprehensive global server coverage, and excellent BitTorrent support.

Regardless of which VPN provider you find is best for you, it is always best to test them out first with a shorter subscription before committing to a cheaper but much longer payment plan. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Is NordVPN faster than IPVanish?

Yes, NordVPN has been proven to be faster than IPVanish in terms of split tunneling. Contrastingly, IPVanish has remarkable and commendable speed which could satisfactory user experience especially in streaming services and torrenting.

Is using NordVPN or IPVanish legal?

Yes, using a VPN is completely legal. It is in your right to protect and encrypt all your internet connection to protect your personal user data. It is the same concept as using an envelope to cover your letters. Some information is better kept private to ensure you’re not vulnerable to all kinds of malicious cyber-attacks.

Am I anonymous when browsing through NordVPN or IPVanish?

No, you are not anonymous when browsing through NordVPN or IPVanish. Many IPN service providers advertise complete anonymity, but their privacy and logs policy may suggest otherwise. Also, there is no real way of knowing how credible their zero-logs claim really is.

While a VPN greatly increases your security and privacy, it does not make you anonymous. By subscribing to IPVanish or NordVPN, you essentially expose yourself and your streaming activities to these VPN service providers.

You also need to take note of the location of IPVanish and NordVPN. Many countries have a data retention law that compels a company to log user activity that they are required to hand over to the authorities. Some VPN services that focus on privacy will accept gift cards cash, or Bitcoin as your subscription payment. You will also not be required to submit your real name, phone number, address, or banking details in order to use their services.

Am I safe when using public Wi-Fi hotspots with IPVanish or NordVPN?

Yes, it is safe to use public Wi-Fi hotspots using IPVanish and NordVPN. However, NordVPN offers better encryption with an AES-256 cipher and security and privacy features. This is to ensure potential hackers do not track your user data or any personal information.

Is NordVPN or IPVanish better for gaming?

In terms of gaming, NordVPN and IPVanish are of equal standards due to extensive bandwidth and low ping that will improving your overall gaming experience.